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Barbosa RC, Godoy RSM, Ferreira PG, Mendes TAO, Ramalho-Ortigão M, Ribeiro JMC, Martins GF. Exploring the midgut physiology of the non-haematophagous mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi. Open Biol 2024; 14:230437. [PMID: 38955221 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxorhynchites mosquitoes have an exclusively phytophagous feeding habit as adults, which leads to significant differences in their morphophysiology compared with haematophagous mosquitoes. However, the molecular mechanisms of digestion in this mosquito are not well understood. In this study, RNA sequencing of the posterior midgut (PMG) of the mosquito Toxorhynchites theobaldi was undertaken, highlighting its significance in mosquito digestion. Subsequently, a comparison was made between the differential gene expression of the PMG and that of the anterior midgut. It was found that the most abundant proteases in the PMG were trypsin and chymotrypsin, and the level of gene expression for enzymes essential for digestion (such as serine protease, α-amylase and pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase) and innate immune response (including catalase, cecropin-A2 and superoxide dismutase) was like that of haematophagous mosquitoes. Peritrophin-1 was detected in the entire midgut, with an elevated expression level in the PMG. Based on our findings, it is hypothesized that a non-haematophagic habit might have been exhibited by the ancestor of Tx. theobaldi, and this trait may have been retained. This study represents a pioneering investigation at the molecular level of midgut contents in a non-haematophagous mosquito. The findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary aspects of feeding habits in culicids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata C Barbosa
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Raquel S M Godoy
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Priscila G Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 50670-900, Brazil
| | - Tiago A O Mendes
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 50670-900, Brazil
| | | | - José M C Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Gustavo F Martins
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
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Van Lommel J, Holtof M, Tilleman L, Cools D, Vansteenkiste S, Polgun D, Verdonck R, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Vanden Broeck J. Post-feeding transcriptomics reveals essential genes expressed in the midgut of the desert locust. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1232545. [PMID: 37692997 PMCID: PMC10484617 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1232545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The digestive tract constitutes an important interface between an animal's internal and external environment. In insects, available gut transcriptome studies are mostly exploratory or look at changes upon infection or upon exposure to xenobiotics, mainly performed in species belonging to holometabolan orders, such as Diptera, Lepidoptera or Coleoptera. By contrast, studies focusing on gene expression changes after food uptake and during digestion are underrepresented. We have therefore compared the gene expression profiles in the midgut of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, between three different time points after feeding, i.e., 24 h (no active digestion), 10 min (the initial stage of feeding), and 2 h (active food digestion). The observed gene expression profiles were consistent with the polyphagous herbivorous lifestyle of this hemimetabolan (orthopteran) species. Our study reveals the upregulation of 576 genes 2 h post-feeding. These are mostly predicted to be associated with digestive physiology, such as genes encoding putative digestive enzymes or nutrient transporters, as well as genes putatively involved in immunity or in xenobiotic metabolism. The 10 min time point represented an intermediate condition, suggesting that the S. gregaria midgut can react rapidly at the transcriptional level to the presence of food. Additionally, our study demonstrated the critical importance of two transcripts that exhibited a significant upregulation 2 h post-feeding: the vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase and the sterol transporter Niemann-Pick 1b protein, which upon RNAi-induced knockdown resulted in a marked increase in mortality. Their vital role and accessibility via the midgut lumen may make the encoded proteins promising insecticidal target candidates, considering that the desert locust is infamous for its huge migrating swarms that can devastate the agricultural production in large areas of Northern Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. In conclusion, the transcriptome datasets presented here will provide a useful and promising resource for studying the midgut physiology of S. gregaria, a socio-economically important pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Van Lommel
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michiel Holtof
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Dorien Cools
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Seppe Vansteenkiste
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daria Polgun
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Verdonck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Environmental Biology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction Lab, Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Adaptation of Helicoverpa armigera to Soybean Peptidase Inhibitors Is Associated with the Transgenerational Upregulation of Serine Peptidases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214301. [PMID: 36430785 PMCID: PMC9693090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular phenotypes induced by environmental stimuli can be transmitted to offspring through epigenetic inheritance. Using transcriptome profiling, we show that the adaptation of Helicoverpa armigera larvae to soybean peptidase inhibitors (SPIs) is associated with large-scale gene expression changes including the upregulation of genes encoding serine peptidases in the digestive system. Furthermore, approximately 60% of the gene expression changes induced by SPIs persisted in the next generation of larvae fed on SPI-free diets including genes encoding regulatory, oxidoreductase, and protease functions. To investigate the role of epigenetic mechanisms in regulating SPI adaptation, the methylome of the digestive system of first-generation larvae (fed on a diet with and without SPIs) and of the progeny of larvae exposed to SPIs were characterized. A comparative analysis between RNA-seq and Methyl-seq data did not show a direct relationship between differentially methylated and differentially expressed genes, while trypsin and chymotrypsin genes were unmethylated in all treatments. Rather, DNA methylation potential epialleles were associated with transcriptional and translational controls; these may play a regulatory role in the adaptation of H. armigera to SPIs. Altogether, our findings provided insight into the mechanisms of insect adaptation to plant antiherbivore defense proteins and illustrated how large-scale transcriptional reprograming of insect genes can be transmitted across generations.
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Carvalho-Costa TM, Tiveron RDR, Mendes MT, Barbosa CG, Nevoa JC, Roza GA, Silva MV, Figueiredo HCP, Rodrigues V, Soares SDC, Oliveira CJF. Salivary and Intestinal Transcriptomes Reveal Differential Gene Expression in Starving, Fed and Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Rhodnius neglectus. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:773357. [PMID: 34988032 PMCID: PMC8722679 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.773357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodnius neglectus is a potential vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc), the causative agent of Chagas disease. The salivary glands (SGs) and intestine (INT) are actively required during blood feeding. The saliva from SGs is injected into the vertebrate host, modulating immune responses and favoring feeding for INT digestion. Tc infection significantly alters the physiology of these tissues; however, studies that assess this are still scarce. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the global transcriptional expression of genes in SGs and INT during fasting (FA), fed (FE), and fed in the presence of Tc (FE + Tc) conditions. In FA, the expression of transcripts related to homeostasis maintenance proteins during periods of stress was predominant. Therefore, the transcript levels of Tret1-like and Hsp70Ba proteins were increased. Blood appeared to be responsible for alterations found in the FE group, as most of the expressed transcripts, such as proteases and cathepsin D, were related to digestion. In FE + Tc group, there was a decreased expression of blood processing genes for insect metabolism (e.g., Antigen-5 precursor, Pr13a, and Obp), detoxification (Sult1) in INT and acid phosphatases in SG. We also found decreased transcriptional expression of lipocalins and nitrophorins in SG and two new proteins, pacifastin and diptericin, in INT. Several transcripts of unknown proteins with investigative potential were found in both tissues. Our results also show that the presence of Tc can change the expression in both tissues for a long or short period of time. While SG homeostasis seems to be re-established on day 9, changes in INT are still evident. The findings of this study may be used for future research on parasite-vector interactions and contribute to the understanding of food physiology and post-meal/infection in triatomines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamires Marielem Carvalho-Costa
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Rafael Destro Rosa Tiveron
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Maria Tays Mendes
- Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Cecília Gomes Barbosa
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Jessica Coraiola Nevoa
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Augusto Roza
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Marcos Vinícius Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | | | - Virmondes Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Siomar de Castro Soares
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Carlo José Freire Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
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Hafeez M, Li X, Ullah F, Zhang Z, Zhang J, Huang J, Khan MM, Chen L, Ren X, Zhou S, Fernández-Grandon GM, Zalucki MP, Lu Y. Behavioral and Physiological Plasticity Provides Insights into Molecular Based Adaptation Mechanism to Strain Shift in Spodoptera frugiperda. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10284. [PMID: 34638623 PMCID: PMC8508907 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
How herbivorous insects adapt to host plants is a key question in ecological and evolutionary biology. The fall armyworm, (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), although polyphagous and a major pest on various crops, has been reported to have a rice and corn (maize) feeding strain in its native range in the Americas. The species is highly invasive and has recently established in China. We compared behavioral changes in larvae and adults of a corn population (Corn) when selected on rice (Rice) and the molecular basis of these adaptational changes in midgut and antennae based on a comparative transcriptome analysis. Larvae of S. frugiperda reared on rice plants continuously for 20 generations exhibited strong feeding preference for with higher larval performance and pupal weight on rice than on maize plants. Similarly, females from the rice selected population laid significantly more eggs on rice as compared to females from maize population. The most highly expressed DEGs were shown in the midgut of Rice vs. Corn. A total of 6430 DEGs were identified between the populations mostly in genes related to digestion and detoxification. These results suggest that potential adaptations for feeding on rice crops, may contribute to the current rapid spread of fall armyworm on rice crops in China and potentially elsewhere. Consistently, highly expressed DEGs were also shown in antennae; a total of 5125 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) s were identified related to the expansions of major chemosensory genes family in Rice compared to the Corn feeding population. These results not only provide valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms in host plants adaptation of S. frugiperda but may provide new gene targets for the management of this pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Hafeez
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaowei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
| | - Farman Ullah
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
| | - Jinming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
| | - Jun Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
| | - Muhammad Musa Khan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Limin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education & Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forest University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiaoyun Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
| | - Shuxing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
| | | | - Myron P. Zalucki
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Yaobin Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; (M.H.); (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.Z.); (J.H.); (L.C.); (X.R.); (S.Z.)
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Foquet B, Castellanos AA, Song H. Comparative analysis of phenotypic plasticity sheds light on the evolution and molecular underpinnings of locust phase polyphenism. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11925. [PMID: 34099755 PMCID: PMC8184943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91317-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Locusts exhibit one of nature's most spectacular examples of complex phenotypic plasticity, in which changes in density cause solitary and cryptic individuals to transform into gregarious and conspicuous locusts forming large migrating swarms. We investigated how these coordinated alternative phenotypes might have evolved by studying the Central American locust and three closely related non-swarming grasshoppers in a comparative framework. By experimentally isolating and crowding during nymphal development, we induced density-dependent phenotypic plasticity and quantified the resulting behavioural, morphological, and molecular reaction norms. All four species exhibited clear plasticity, but the individual reaction norms varied among species and showed different magnitudes. Transcriptomic responses were species-specific, but density-responsive genes were functionally similar across species. There were modules of co-expressed genes that were highly correlated with plastic reaction norms, revealing a potential molecular basis of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity. These findings collectively highlight the importance of studying multiple reaction norms from a comparative perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Foquet
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4120, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
| | - Adrian A Castellanos
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, USA
| | - Hojun Song
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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Hafeez M, Li XW, Zhang JM, Zhang ZJ, Huang J, Wang LK, Khan MM, Shah S, Fernández-Grandon GM, Lu YB. Role of digestive protease enzymes and related genes in host plant adaptation of a polyphagous pest, Spodoptera frugiperda. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:611-626. [PMID: 33629522 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary success of phytophagous insects depends on their ability to efficiently exploit plants as a source of energy for survival. Herbivorous insects largely depend on the efficiency, flexibility, and diversity of their digestive physiology and sophistication of their detoxification system to use chemically diverse host plants as food sources. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a polyphagous pest of many commercially important crops. To elucidate the ability of this insect pest to adapt to host plant mechanisms, we evaluated the impact of primary (corn) and alternate (rice) host plants after 11 generations on gut digestive enzymatic activity and expression profiles of related genes. Results indicated that the total protease and class-specific trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like protease activity of S. frugiperda significantly differed among host plant treatments. The class-specific protease profiles greatly differed in S. frugiperda midguts upon larval exposure to different treatments with inhibitors compared with treatments without inhibitors. Similarly, the single and cumulative effects of the enzyme-specific inhibitors TLCK, TPCK, and E-64 significantly increased larval mortality and reduced larval growth/mass across different plant treatments. Furthermore, the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results revealed increased transcription of two trypsin (SfTry-3, SfTry-7) and one chymotrypsin gene (Sfchym-9), which indicated that they have roles in host plant adaptation. Knockdown of these genes resulted in significantly reduced mRNA expression levels of the trypsin genes. This was related to the increased mortality observed in treatments compared with the dsRED control. This result indicates possible roles of S. frugiperda gut digestive enzymes and related genes in host plant adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Hafeez
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Jin-Ming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Jun Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Li-Kun Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Muhammad Musa Khan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Sakhawat Shah
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | | | - Yao-Bin Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
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Crucial Role of Juvenile Hormone Receptor Components Methoprene-Tolerant and Taiman in Sexual Maturation of Adult Male Desert Locusts. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020244. [PMID: 33572050 PMCID: PMC7915749 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently (2020), Africa and Asia are experiencing the worst desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) plague in decades. Exceptionally high rainfall in different regions caused favorable environmental conditions for very successful reproduction and population growth. To better understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for this remarkable reproductive capacity, as well as to fill existing knowledge gaps regarding the regulation of male reproductive physiology, we investigated the role of methoprene-tolerant (Scg-Met) and Taiman (Scg-Tai), responsible for transducing the juvenile hormone (JH) signal, in adult male locusts. We demonstrated that knockdown of these components by RNA interference strongly inhibits male sexual maturation, severely disrupting reproduction. This was evidenced by the inability to show mating behavior, the absence of a yellow-colored cuticle, the reduction of relative testes weight, and the drastically reduced phenylacetonitrile (PAN) pheromone levels of the treated males. We also observed a reduced relative weight, as well as relative protein content, of the male accessory glands in Scg-Met knockdown locusts. Interestingly, in these animals the size of the corpora allata (CA), the endocrine glands where JH is synthesized, was significantly increased, as well as the transcript level of JH acid methyltransferase (JHAMT), a rate-limiting enzyme in the JH biosynthesis pathway. Moreover, other endocrine pathways appeared to be affected by the knockdown, as evidenced by changes in the expression levels of the insulin-related peptide and two neuroparsins in the fat body. Our results demonstrate that JH signaling pathway components play a crucial role in male reproductive physiology, illustrating their potential as molecular targets for pest control.
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Wang M, Zhang S, Shi Y, Yang Y, Wu Y. Global gene expression changes induced by knockout of a protease gene cluster in Helicoverpa armigera with CRISPR/Cas9. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 122:104023. [PMID: 32061647 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most serious agricultural insect pests of global importance. It is highly polyphagous and depends on digestive serine proteases to degrade proteins to peptides and to amino acids. H. armigera has evolved adaptive ability to compensate for the inhibition of plant defensive protease inhibitors (PIs) in its diet by overproduction of digestive enzymes. As far as we know, compensation for deletion of serine protease genes has not yet been studied in any herbivorous insect. In this study, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out a cluster of 18 trypsin-like genes in H. armigera. Compared with the wild type SCD strain, activities of the total proteases, trypsins and chymotrypsins were not significantly changed in the gene cluster knockout strain (Tryp-KO). RNA-seq data showed 1492 upregulated and 461 downregulated DEGs in Try-KO. GO function classification and KEGG pathway analyses revealed these differentially expressed genes were enriched for terms related to binding, catalytic activity, metabolic process and signal transduction. In regard to serine protease genes, 35 were upregulated and 12 downregulated in Tryp-KO strain. Our study indicated that H. armigera can compensate for the deleted protease genes by overexpression of other trypsin and chymotrypsin genes in order to maintain its genetic and metabolic robustness. It also suggests that genetic perturbations created by genome editing tools can induce global gene expression changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Shuangshuang Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Yu Shi
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Yihua Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Yidong Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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10
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Gene Expression and Diet Breadth in Plant-Feeding Insects: Summarizing Trends. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 35:259-277. [PMID: 31791830 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptomic studies lend insights into the role of transcriptional plasticity in adaptation and specialization. Recently, there has been growing interest in understanding the relationship between variation in herbivorous insect gene expression and the evolution of diet breadth. We review the studies that have emerged on insect gene expression and host plant use, and outline the questions and approaches in the field. Many candidate genes underlying herbivory and specialization have been identified, and a few key studies demonstrate increased transcriptional plasticity associated with generalist compared with specialist species. Addressing the roles that transcriptional variation plays in insect diet breadth will have important implications for our understanding of the evolution of specialization and the genetic and environmental factors that govern insect-plant interactions.
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Holtof M, Lenaerts C, Cullen D, Vanden Broeck J. Extracellular nutrient digestion and absorption in the insect gut. Cell Tissue Res 2019; 377:397-414. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03031-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Li L, Lan M, Lu W, Li Z, Xia T, Zhu J, Ye M, Gao X, Wu G. De novo transcriptomic analysis of the alimentary tract of the tephritid gall fly, Procecidochares utilis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201679. [PMID: 30138350 PMCID: PMC6107134 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The tephritid gall fly, Procecidochares utilis, is an important obligate parasitic insect of the malignant weed Eupatorium adenophorum which biosynthesizes toxic secondary metabolites. Insect alimentary tracts secrete several enzymes that are used for detoxification, including cytochrome P450s, glutathione S-transferases, and carboxylesterases. To explore the adaptation of P. utilis to its toxic host plant, E. adenophorum at molecular level, we sequenced the transcriptome of the alimentary tract of P. utilis using Illumina sequencing. Sequencing and de novo assembly yielded 62,443 high-quality contigs with an average length of 604 bp that were further assembled into 45,985 unigenes with an average length of 674 bp and an N50 of 983 bp. Among the unigenes, 30,430 (66.17%) were annotated by alignment against the NCBI non-redundant protein (Nr) database, while 16,700 (36.32%), 16,267 (35.37%), and 11,530 (25.07%) were assigned functions using the Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Ontology (GO) databases, respectively. Using the comprehensive transcriptome data set, we manually identified several important gene families likely to be involved in the detoxification of toxic compounds including 21 unigenes within the glutathione S-transferase (GST) family, 22 unigenes within the cytochrome P450 (P450) family, and 16 unigenes within the carboxylesterase (CarE) family. Quantitative PCR was used to verify eight, six, and two genes of GSTs, P450s, and CarEs, respectively, in different P. utilis tissues and at different developmental stages. The detoxification enzyme genes were mainly expressed in the foregut and midgut. Moreover, the unigenes were higher expressed in the larvae, pupae, and 3-day adults, while they were expressed at lower levels in eggs. These transcriptomic data provide a valuable molecular resource for better understanding the function of the P. utilis alimentary canal. These identified genes could be pinpoints to address the molecular mechanisms of P. utilis interacting with toxic plant host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Mingxian Lan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Wufeng Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhaobo Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Tao Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Jiaying Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Min Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Xi Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- * E-mail: (XG); (GW)
| | - Guoxing Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- * E-mail: (XG); (GW)
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Guo W, Wu Z, Yang L, Cai Z, Zhao L, Zhou S. Juvenile hormone–dependent Kazal‐type serine protease inhibitor Greglin safeguards insect vitellogenesis and egg production. FASEB J 2018; 33:917-927. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801068r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Zhongxia Wu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress BiologyState Key Laboratory of Cotton BiologySchool of Life SciencesHenan University Kaifeng China
| | - Libin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress BiologyState Key Laboratory of Cotton BiologySchool of Life SciencesHenan University Kaifeng China
| | - Zhaokui Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Lianfeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Shutang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress BiologyState Key Laboratory of Cotton BiologySchool of Life SciencesHenan University Kaifeng China
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Gazara RK, Cardoso C, Bellieny-Rabelo D, Ferreira C, Terra WR, Venancio TM. De novo transcriptome sequencing and comparative analysis of midgut tissues of four non-model insects pertaining to Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera. Gene 2017; 627:85-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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Sugahara R, Tanaka S, Jouraku A, Shiotsuki T. Geographic variation in RNAi sensitivity in the migratory locust. Gene 2016; 605:5-11. [PMID: 28034629 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been widely used in basic and applied research. It is known that RNAi works in some species but not in others, although the cause for this difference remains unclear. Here, we present inter- and intra-populational variations in RNAi sensitivity in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria, and provide information on the genetic background of such variations. In the four strains analyzed, originating from different Japanese localities, most individuals from two of the strains were sensitive to injections of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) against the corazonin (CRZ) and ecdysone receptor genes, whereas those from the other two strains were resistant. Selection for individuals sensitive to dsCRZ produced a dramatic increase in the RNAi sensitivity in the following generations, although phenotypes also varied in the selected line, suggesting that several genes might control RNAi sensitivity. Reciprocal crosses between a sensitive and a resistant strain suggested that the resistant phenotype is dominant. The expression levels of nine RNAi-associated genes known for other organisms were not correlated with the variation in RNAi sensitivity observed in L. migratoria. Variations in RNAi sensitivity as the ones observed in this study should be considered when using RNAi in basic and applied research as well as in pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryohei Sugahara
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 1-2 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan.
| | - Seiji Tanaka
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 1-2 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
| | - Akiya Jouraku
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 1-2 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shiotsuki
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 1-2 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
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